University of Louisiana System Ready to Adopt NIL Rules

As schools begin to adopt their own policies for NIL ahead of the NCAA’s expected vote on Wednesday, the University of Louisiana system is preparing to adopt its own rules for all nine institutions in the system on July 1. All nine athletic directors in the system were part of the process.

Grambling State, Louisiana Tech, McNeese State, Nicholls State, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana, University of Louisiana Lafayette, University of Louisiana Monroe and University of New Orleans are the nine institutions who would be subject to the rules.

The guidelines contemplate situations in which a student athlete would be permitted to use their NIL (although it’s noted this is not an exhaustive list):

• Promote their own business
• Promote a corporate entity (e.g., brand ambassador, social media influencer)
• Establish their own camp/clinic
• Make an appearance at any location and receive compensation
• Sign autographs and receive compensation

Key terms of University of Louisiana System NIL Policy

• Institutions may prohibit student athletes from opportunities that conflict with existing institutional sponsorship agreements or that go against the values of the institution
• Institutional staff members shall not be involved in arranging or providing compensation themselves
• Boosters are prohibited from creating or facilitating compensation opportunities as a recruiting inducement or extra benefit to remain enrolled at an institution
• Express written permission is required to use an institution’s intellectual property
• Student athletes may have representation by an agent or attorney for NIL purposes, but they must be registered/licensed in the state
• Institutions shall conduct financial literacy and life skills workshops for a minimum of five hours annually in areas such as financial aid, debt management, budget information and time management
• Agreements must be disclosed at least seven days in advance
• Certain categories are prohibited: tobacco, alcohol, illegal substances or activities, banned athletic substances, or any form of gambling.
• The duration of any contract for use of a student athlete’s NIL shall not extend beyond their participation in an athletics program at a postsecondary education institution
• Each institution can adopt its own policies and procedures in accordance with state law for the process by which student athletes report agreements and its process for monitoring agreements
• Enforcement guidelines and sanctions are to be adopted by each institution and violations may result in roster removal or scholarship termination

Status of Louisiana State Law

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has NIL legislation already passed by the legislature, but he has not yet signed it. The law will go into effect immediately upon signing, but it does have language stating it’s only applicable after each university system governing board adopts implementation policies. That’s presumably why the University of Louisiana system was already working on its own guidelines.

You can view the complete set of guidelines from the University of Louisiana system here.

Check out our state-by-state NIL tracker